About Mike Cieslak, Certified Farrier and Bare Hoof Care Specialist
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Michael Cieslak has always been passionate about horses. As a child, his family would purposely plan their vacations to make sure there were horses and opportunities for him to ride as part of their trip. He was known for leaving after breakfast and not returning until dinnertime – spending all day in the saddle and around the animals he loved every chance he had. That was, and always has been, his idea of a vacation.
As an adult, Mike acquired his first horse at age 23. From that point forward, horses were not just a hobby that he enjoyed, they were his life. During those early years, Mike was exposed to a variety of approaches when it came to every aspect of horse care. He saw the methods that people were using to train and work with their animals and thought there had to be kinder, gentler ways of working with horses to achieve training and performance goals. He saw changes in veterinary care, and was witness to the shift from backyard veterinary care to the demand for the technologically advanced care that is available today – including more homeopathic and holistic methods like body work, massage, chiropractic care, aromatherapy, and nutriceuticals. Not surprisingly, he also became aware of a subtle but distinct shift in the approach to hoof care.
In 1998 Mike’s relationship with horses would start a personal evolution in his approach to horses and their care. Prompted by the desire to learn more about the animals that he loved, he decided to further his equine education and enrolled in a nationally recognized farrier program. He graduated from the program and became a certified farrier. Within a very short time he became known for his work with gaited breeds, and soon thereafter horse owners were seeking him out. Demand for his work grew strictly by word of mouth referrals. Within his first year as a farrier his hoof care practice was at full capacity and was comprised of both pleasure horses and performance horses that were showing successfully at high ranks within the Tennessee Walking Horse industry. One of his clients took her sound, flatshod TWH gelding down to the Tennessee Walking Horse National Celebration and won with his shoes on. Business was good and clients were plentiful.
Over the years Mike became aware of noticeable changes in the way his clients were caring for, training, and living with their horses. The number of clients who were looking for more natural alternatives in their horse care was growing by leaps and bounds. Not surprisingly, they were looking for this in their hoof care, too. Mike took it upon himself to research what this “barefoot thing” was all about, and thus began his journey into bare hoof care. He spent some time with a local barefoot practitioner, Ruth Green of Iron Free Hoof (www.IronFreeHoof.com). He studied the various methodologies of natural hoof care (Strasser, Jackson, LaPierre, and Ramey, just to name a few), as well as the science behind it (most notably, the research of Dr. Robert Bowker of Michigan State University and the classical research by Dr. James Rooney). While all of these methodologies are based on the experience and theories of the practitioners associated with them, one method stood apart from the rest. Pete Ramey’s experience and methodology was not only based upon his extensive experience and practice, it was also backed by scientific research conducted by some of the nation's top veterinary researchers. Mike studied Pete’s work in detail, and applied it to his own horses – successfully transitioning them to bare hoof care, and doing the same for the clients who were requesting natural hoof care services. Once again, word of mouth spread and business boomed without advertisement of any kind. Mike’s clientele evolved to become entirely bare foot, and his clients range from barrel horses, reiners, and dressage horses to gaited pleasure horses and competitive gaited performance horses. He was very pleased to learn that one of his clients took her barefoot, naturally gaited filly to the NWHA Nationals this year - and won! His practice is now strictly geared to providing the best bare hoof care available – utilizing the most recent scientific information available - and incorporating his practice of continually educating himself and his clients on the bare hoof to insure that his hoof care services are the best to be found.
Mike has attended clincs with Pete Ramey and has taken it upon himself to study even further, one-on-one, with one of Pete’s instructors. It is not unusual for him to assign ‘homework’ to clients in an effort to help provide top quality hoof care along with an understanding of the basis for what he is doing and why to his clients. He looks at every horse in a holistic manner, taking all factors into consideration when working with you and your horse. Where your horse lives and its environment will impact the health of his feet, as will diet, excercise, injuries, or physical challenges unique to your horse. This approach insures your success at having healthy, sound, bare hooves. Additionally, Mike's background as a certified farrier and as a bare hoof care expert gives his clients the unique advantage of discussing why a veterinarian or farrier would recommend a traditional approach (with pads, shoes, wedges, etc.), and how bare foot methods are not only a better, but healthier alternative. This is especially important when dealing with veterinarians or other equine health professionals who may not be familiar with the principles of natural hoof care, as Mike's unique background offers the professional perspective of traditional methods in comparison with bare hoof care.
We invite you to contact us to discuss if bare hoof care is the right choice for you and your horses. If you are out of our service area, we’ll even help you to locate a qualified professional in your area.
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Copyright 2007-2008, Laura Adams
Naked Hoof Care
Get naked.
Bare your soles.
Michael Cieslak, Bare Hoof Care Specialist
Office: 734/428-2800
